Can my employer force me to receive the Covid-19 Vaccine?

covic vaccine

As the Covid-19 vaccine continues to be distributed across the country, employees are becoming increasingly reluctant over a mandatory vaccination policy from their employers. Here is what you need to know about whether your employer can make the vaccine mandatory and whether it is likely that they will in the near future.

Could your employer force you to get the Covid-19 vaccine?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a statement in December stating that employers can require employees to get vaccinated before going to work. This means that unless you maintain a right to be accommodated, for a religious or health purpose, employers are within their right to implement a mandatory vaccination policy. As the EEOC states, your employer can require you to get vaccinated in order to make sure that employees don’t pose threats “to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.” Although some companies will issue a mandatory vaccination policy, most companies will probably adopt a wait-and-see approach before making a decision.

However, you may be exempt from mandatory vaccination if you have an accommodation because of a disability or religious reason. If you qualify for one of these exceptions, your employer could be legally required to reasonably accommodate you so that you may continue working without taking the vaccine. This could mean any number of alternatives, including working from home or working in isolation from other employees.

Could your employer be liable if you have an adverse reaction to the vaccine?

Employers will probably wait to adopt a companywide vaccination policy in favor of a recommendation for employees to get vaccinated. The reason is that your employer could open itself up to liability if an employee gets the vaccine and subsequently has an adverse reaction to it. If you get sick because of the vaccine, your employer would probably be liable to a workers compensation claim by you.

If you need advice on Employment Law Issues, do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced business attorneys at EPGD Business Law, EPGD Business Law is located in beautiful Coral Gables, West Palm Beach and historic Washington D.C. Call us at (786) 837-6787, or contact us through the website to schedule a consultation.

EPGD Business Law is located in beautiful Coral Gables. Call us at (786) 837-6787, or contact us through the website to schedule a consultation.

*Disclaimer: this blog post is not intended to be legal advice. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney if you have any legal concerns. Contacting us through our website does not establish an attorney-client relationship.*

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Eric Gros-Dubois

Founding partner Eric Gros-Dubois established EPGD Business Law in 2013. With over a decade of experience expanding the firm and leading it to its current success, Eric now primarily manages the corporate division of EPGD. Given Eric’s educational background, holding both a JD and MBA, combined with his own unique experience of starting a business from scratch and growing it to a multi-million dollar firm, he brings a specialized and invaluable perspective to those seeking legal assistance for themselves and their businesses. Having now instilled his same values in our team of skilled corporate associates, Eric leads a firm that is always ready, willing, and equipped to handle any and every legal matter that a business owner may have.

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*The following comments are not intended to be treated as legal advice. The answer to your question is limited to the basic facts presented. Additional details may heavily alter our assessment and change the answer provided. For a more thorough review of your question please contact our office for a consultation.
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